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FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Arkansas
0 As a result of the visibility the amnesty issue re-
îived during the Democratic Convention, William Cottrell,
former captain with a field artillery aviation company
i Vietnam, has become an amnesty activist in Arkansas.
The following are excerpts from an article printed
îcently in the Northwest Arkansas TIMES:
"At one time I felt very strongly that these persons
<ar resisters) should be punished for what I considered
) be an act of cowardice. However, looking back at the
Tect that the war in Vietnam has had on me and count-
;ss others, I can see how these resisters may have made
wise but difficult decision."
Cottrell said he had made the decision to speak cut
ir amnesty only in the last few days. "I am a member of
le American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and
le Disabled American Veterans—three organizations who
•e outspoken in denial of amnesty to the resistors. So
1 switching to support of amnesty has been a difficult
le. And I believe that to get amnesty now for these
lung men, the subject is going to have to be brought to
ie people's attention again and again. This is a small
irt that I csn do."
While the Vietnam War was going on, Cottrell was an
tive supporter of this country's role in that war»
ring a 12-month tour in Vietnam, as a pilot of a light
servation plane who's job was to direct artillery and
r support on suspected targets, Cottrell flew over 500
ssions. Twice he was shot down by enemy fire...«
For his actions Cottrell received 15 military decor-
ions.... But his contribution towards ending that war
. was gradually overshadowed by the growing conviction
at America's efforts were being wasted.
"The memories of the rice paddies cf Southeast Asia
came more distant as the years pass. But there are
me memories of killing and suffering that no amount of
me can erase," Cottrell said.
"The Vietnam War was a war of attrition. The score
rd was the body count which was reported each week,
e main requirement was to be able to report to the
erican public that we inflicted heavier losses on them
an they did on us during any given week," he said.
On his return to the United States, Cottrell contin-
d to have bouts of depression because of his role in
etnam, and was eventually placed under treatment by the
se mental hygiene officer.... Two years after dis-
arge, Cottrell applied to the Veteran's Administration
r aid in combatting a sense of depression that would
t lift.... "These (a row of medicine containers) and
sse (the medals) are the two things I got out of Viet-
Tl,"
Cottrell is now working with students at the Fayette-
lle University organizing support for total amnesty.
onnecticut
) The New Haven coalition of Americans For Amnesty and
s National Veterans Fraternity is forming a support
sup in the community the veteran issue. They plan to
Id regular meetings with veterans and the community on
iesty and related issues.
California
0A Ijooie coalJXion oi veti on the weit coait hat
ionmed. One oi iXi iiAii actÀoni vxu to iaue the iol-
loviing itatenent. tie vAge otheAi tc ccmide/i iirMan
coalitioni and/on. o.ctiorA.
Asserting that the American Legion does not represent
Vietnam veterans on the issue of amnesty in the presidential campaign, the Coalition of Veterans for Human
Rights has announced plant for Vietnam veterans in California to "vcte with their DD 214" on amnesty.
Vietnam veterans will xerox a copy of their discharge
paper, DD Form 214, and write their opinions concerning
one million Americans in need of amnesty: Draft Resisters,
Veterans with Less than Honorable Discharges and Deserters.
Recognizing the need for a nationwide poll of Vietnam
veteran attitudes on amnesty, the coalition has requested
the assistance of the Gallup and Harris Polls.
"We commend Governor Carter's policy statement on
draft resisters," a spokespersun for the Coalition at a
statewide meeting here said, "bub it fails to deal with
more than 750,000 Vietnam-era veterans whe need amnesty.
"We urge the presidential candidates to address themselves to the outstanding issues of the Vietnam war,
namely discrimination against Vietnam veterans by the
Veterans Administration and employers, especially the
lifelong discrimination imposed on veterans with less than
Honorable discharges; recognition of Vietnam by the U.S.
and reconstruction of Vietnam."
Noting that the Vietnam war was a war without honor
for Americans, the Coalition has ci>llec for the military
to institute a policy of a single type discharge,
0An amnesty demonstration will be held in San Francisco
around the time of the next Cfirter-Ford debate. People
in the area ore urged to attend.
New York
9 a local Democratic Party committee in Brooklyn conducted a debate between representatives cf the VFW and
NCUUA at a meeting on Sept. 28 attended by over 300 people. At the conclusion of the detate a resolution supporting Universal Unconditional Amnesty was adopted by a
two to one margin, while several weaker resolutions were
rejected. Copies were sent to the medi . and to their
congressional and the presidential candidates.
Arranging and participating in such debates is a good
way for amnesty supporters to raise the issue of amnesty
during the election year, and to demonstrate the widespread support that exists.
9A bill was recently introduced in the New York Legislature proposing to bar Vietnam veterans with less than
Honorable discharges from taking civil service tests for
five years after discharge. While the Legislature passed
the bill overwhelmingly, Governor Carey vetoed it. This
was largely the result of the overwhelming pressure exerted by state-wide veteran, emnesty, and church organizations.
AMNESTY UPDATE / 12

Copyright belongs to the individuals who created them or the organizations for which they worked. We share them here strictly for non-profit educational purposes. If you believe that you possess copyright to material included here, please contact us at asklibrary@wisconsinhistory.org. Under the fair use provisions of the U.S. copyright law, teachers and students are free to reproduce any document for nonprofit classroom use. Commercial use of copyright-protected material is generally prohibited.

Owner

Brünn, Harris Watts Collection - Serials and Press Release Soldiers Movements, International Institute of Social History, Amsterdam; The International Institute of Social History Library Collections; Wisconsin Historical Society

Copyright belongs to the individuals who created them or the organizations for which they worked. We share them here strictly for non-profit educational purposes. If you believe that you possess copyright to material included here, please contact us at asklibrary@wisconsinhistory.org. Under the fair use provisions of the U.S. copyright law, teachers and students are free to reproduce any document for nonprofit classroom use. Commercial use of copyright-protected material is generally prohibited.

Owner

Brünn, Harris Watts Collection - Serials and Press Release Soldiers Movements, International Institute of Social History, Amsterdam; The International Institute of Social History Library Collections; Wisconsin Historical Society

Full text

FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Arkansas
0 As a result of the visibility the amnesty issue re-
îived during the Democratic Convention, William Cottrell,
former captain with a field artillery aviation company
i Vietnam, has become an amnesty activist in Arkansas.
The following are excerpts from an article printed
îcently in the Northwest Arkansas TIMES:
"At one time I felt very strongly that these persons
llec for the military
to institute a policy of a single type discharge,
0An amnesty demonstration will be held in San Francisco
around the time of the next Cfirter-Ford debate. People
in the area ore urged to attend.
New York
9 a local Democratic Party committee in Brooklyn conducted a debate between representatives cf the VFW and
NCUUA at a meeting on Sept. 28 attended by over 300 people. At the conclusion of the detate a resolution supporting Universal Unconditional Amnesty was adopted by a
two to one margin, while several weaker resolutions were
rejected. Copies were sent to the medi . and to their
congressional and the presidential candidates.
Arranging and participating in such debates is a good
way for amnesty supporters to raise the issue of amnesty
during the election year, and to demonstrate the widespread support that exists.
9A bill was recently introduced in the New York Legislature proposing to bar Vietnam veterans with less than
Honorable discharges from taking civil service tests for
five years after discharge. While the Legislature passed
the bill overwhelmingly, Governor Carey vetoed it. This
was largely the result of the overwhelming pressure exerted by state-wide veteran, emnesty, and church organizations.
AMNESTY UPDATE / 12